Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2009-10: James Melindy skated for the Telus Cup (Canadian AAA midget) national champion Notre Dame Hounds in Saskatchewan and represented Canada Atlantic at the 2010 U17 World Hockey Challenge. He scored 8 goals with 19 assists and had 92 penalty minutes in 41 games and had 2 assists with 14 penalty minutes in 13 playoff games as the Hounds won the SMHL crown. In seven Telus Cup games he scored 3 goals, all on the power play, and had 3 assists with 8 penalty minutes. In five games at the WHC, he was scoreless with 12 penalty minutes for Team Atlantic.

2010-11: Drafted by Moncton in the second round (34th overall) of the 2009 QMJHL Draft, Melindy skated in 40 games for the Wildcats as a rookie. He scored 4 goals with 1 assist and was minus-four with 17 penalty minutes. Moncton finished third in the Maritimes Division. In the five-game first round series with Lewiston, Melindy was an even plus/minus and had no points or penalties.

2011-12: Melindy was the leading scorer among defensemen for Moncton in his second season. In 61 games he scored 9 goals with 18 assists and was minus-seven with 74 penalty minutes. The Wildcats reached the QMJHL playoffs and finished fourth in the Maritimes Division despite a sub-.500 record. In the four game playoff series with Halifax, Melindy had 2 goals with 1 assist and was minus-seven with 12 penalty minutes. Both of his goals were scored on the power play. Melindy was invited to the NHL Draft Combine and ranked 63rd amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings prior to the 2012 NHL Draft.

2012-13: Melindy made his pro hockey debut in April — skating in two games with the AHL's Portland Pirates — following his third QMJHL season with Moncton. He had no points nor penalty minutes in his stint with the Pirates. In 67 regular season games for Moncton he scored 4 goals with 20 assists and was +13 with 90 penalty minutes. The Wildcats finished second to Memorial Cup champion Halifax in the Maritimes Division and lost to Victoriaville in a first round playoff series. Melindy was -1 with no points and 4 penalty minutes in five playoff games.

Talent Analysis

A two-way defender, Melindy has good size and skating ability, but needs to get stronger. Seeing plenty of ice time with the Wildcats, the workload seemed to wear him out as the season went on and sometimes led to him making costly mistakes in his own end. Willing to mix it up and stand up for his teammates, Melindy makes a great first pass and is a solid option offensively.

Future

Add Melindy to the list of young and hungry defenseman playing with Portland this season. He will start his first full season at the AHL this fall.

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Photo: Rookie pro Lucas Lessio broke camp with the Coyotes but was assigned to AHL Portland after three NHL games (courtesy of Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Phoenix Coyotes may have the most unbalanced prospect pool in the league. On defense, they have more legitimate players than places to put them. At forward, they may be forced to convert their young centers to address the scarcity of talent on both wings.

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Photo: Coming off a strong rookie season for AHL Portland, defenseman Brandon Gormley remains the top prospect in the Coyotes organization (courtesy of Fred Kfoury/Icon SMI)

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The Phoenix Coyotes prospect pool is loaded with players who are already playing professional hockey. Most of these players are playing for the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate team, the Portland Pirates. With the Pirates recently clinching a playoff spot, these prospects will gain valuable post-season experience early on in their careers.

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Photo: Blainville-Boisbriand Aramada defenseman and Detroit Red Wings prospect Xavier Ouellet has had a memorable 2012-13 season, likely his final QMJHL season before turning pro (courtesy of Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

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Photo: Henrik Samuelsson, the Phoenix Coyotes' first-round selection last summer, continues to be a force for the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings. (courtesy of Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)

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